View Park Prep High School’s girl’s softball team has won two consecutive softball championships in their first two years of existence, winning the 2017 L.A. City CIF Section, Div. III Girl’s Softball Championship. Led by head coach, Leesa Harris and assistant coaches, Brittnei Price and Aprylle Ross, the Lady Knights held off a 7th inning rally from the Huntington Park High Spartans by a score of 3-2, winning their second championship at Cal State Dominguez Hills’ Toro field.
Last year’s league MVP, sophomore pitcher Janelle Brown, dominated the entire game, but struggled a bit with bases loaded in the bottom of the 7th with a tense 3-2 lead. “This was such an emotional game and with bases loaded and needing only one out for the win, I kept thinking, lets close this out,” said Brown.
Brown’s pitch was hit hard for what looked like a tying and possibly go ahead run but freshman 2nd baseman Hailey Veazie made the defensive play of the game, catching the line drive shot and halting the Spartan’s late inning surge for the win. “I felt if the ball was hit to me, I had to do whatever I could to make the play for Janelle and my teammates,” Veazie said.
View Park Prep athletic director, Ron Ambers predicted a win earlier in the week. “I just have believed in these coaches and players all year. To win back-to-back championships in our first two years is an awesome, awesome thing,” he said.
“We didn’t expect to go back-to-back but we didn’t expect to lose either,” said head coach Harris. “If we instill this concept with the girls, this is what happens.”
